Paddy finds the silver lining

Paddy McCartin has played five senior games in 2017 for a career total of 22.

There’s no definite time frame on it yet but we’re all confident that it’s going really well and that’s a positive.

Paddy McCartin

It’s been a frustrating couple of months for Paddy McCartin but the young key forward is flying on the track as he works towards a return from concussion.

After suffering three separate concussions in an injury interrupted 2016, McCartin had avoided any similar issues until late June when he copped a head knock in a VFL game, which has sidelined him since.

While McCartin hasn’t been cleared to return to action just yet, the 2014 No. 1 pick hasn’t missed a beat with his training.

The 21-year-old is putting plenty of miles into his legs and is confident the high performance department at St Kilda has him heading in the right direction.

“I’m feeling really good. I’ve been training really hard for the last six or seven weeks and I’m doing a bit more than what I would be doing in season normally, so it’s been sort of like a mini pre-season,” McCartin told saints.com.au on Friday.

“At the moment, we’re just taking it week by week and just assessing then. There’s no definite time frame on it yet but we’re all confident that it’s going really well and that’s a positive.

“It’s just one of those injuries that I’m sure people are aware of these days that you’ve got to just play it on its merits.

“It’s been super frustrating and annoying, I just want to be out there playing but there has been a few positives that have come from it.”

Since his latest concussion at Trevor Barker Oval on June 24, McCartin has completed a mountain of running, spent plenty of time in the gym and trained with the main group with the exception of full contact drills.

“Earlier on it was a bit more footy specific (training). Sammy Gilbert has had a hand injury so I’ve been doing a lot of stuff with him on Saturday’s and they’ve been pretty big sessions,” McCartin said.

“Then some more specific running, some longer distance stuff and then some repeat work. And then the last couple of weeks it’s been a mixture of both.

“It’s been good to change things up and do a few different things. I’m feeling really fit which is good.”